Jim Clough
Encyclopedia
James Arthur "Jim" Clough (13 July 1916 – 20 May 2003) was an Australia
n politician. He was the Liberal
member for Parramatta
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1956 to 1959, and for Eastwood
from 1965 to 1988.
Clough was born in Warialda
, the son of Ralph and Margaret Jane (née O'Farrell) Clough. He was educated at Warialda Convent, and later at St Patrick's Marist Brothers, Sydney
. He became an accountant, although he also worked as a station hand and sheep shearer
. In 1939 he enlisted in the AIF
, serving until 1939 when he was medically discharged. He married railway employee Patricia McNamara on 16 February 1945, with whom he would have eight children.
He was commissioned as a Justice of the Peace
in 1946, in which year he also became a member of the Liberal Party
's State Council. He was the Liberal candidate for the safe Labor
seat of Reid
in the 1949
and 1951 federal election
s.
In 1956, Clough was preselected as the Liberal candidate for the state seat of Parramatta
, held by Labor
MP Kevin Morgan
. Clough defeated Morgan, but after a redistribution in 1959 the seat was given a Labor majority and Clough did not contest the election. He was instead elected to Baulkham Hills Council, but re-entered state politics in 1965 following the retirement of Eastwood
Liberal MP Eric Hearnshaw
, and was Minister for Youth, Ethnic and Community Affairs for four months in 1976. He held staunch, socially conservative views, vehemently opposing the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1984, remarking: "...that there are people in the community that want to and can help them overcome their problem". He held the seat until 1988, when he was defeated for preselection by Andrew Tink
and retired.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He was the Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member for Parramatta
Electoral district of Parramatta
Parramatta is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently held by Geoff Lee of the Liberal Party of Australia....
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 1956 to 1959, and for Eastwood
Electoral district of Eastwood
Eastwood was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1927 to 1930 and from 1965 to 1999. It included Eastwood.-Members for Eastwood:...
from 1965 to 1988.
Clough was born in Warialda
Warialda, New South Wales
Warialda is a town in the Northwest Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia, in Gwydir Shire. Situated on the banks of the Warialda Creek, the town’s name means “Place of Wild Honey.” At the 2006 census, Warialda had a population of 1,206.- Transport :...
, the son of Ralph and Margaret Jane (née O'Farrell) Clough. He was educated at Warialda Convent, and later at St Patrick's Marist Brothers, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. He became an accountant, although he also worked as a station hand and sheep shearer
Sheep shearer
A sheep shearer is a worker who uses -blade or machine shears to remove wool from domestic sheep during crutching or shearing.-History:...
. In 1939 he enlisted in the AIF
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
, serving until 1939 when he was medically discharged. He married railway employee Patricia McNamara on 16 February 1945, with whom he would have eight children.
He was commissioned as a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in 1946, in which year he also became a member of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
's State Council. He was the Liberal candidate for the safe Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
seat of Reid
Division of Reid
The Division of Reid is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in the western suburbs of Sydney, and includes the suburbs of Abbotsford, Auburn , Berala , Breakfast Point, Burwood , Cabarita, Canada Bay, Chiswick, Concord, Concord West, Croydon , Drummoyne,...
in the 1949
Australian federal election, 1949
Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1949. All 121 seats in the House of Representatives, and 42 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, where the single transferable vote was introduced...
and 1951 federal election
Australian federal election, 1951
Federal elections were held in Australia on 28 April 1951. All 121 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, due to a double dissolution called after the Senate rejected the Commonwealth Bank Bill...
s.
In 1956, Clough was preselected as the Liberal candidate for the state seat of Parramatta
Electoral district of Parramatta
Parramatta is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently held by Geoff Lee of the Liberal Party of Australia....
, held by Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
MP Kevin Morgan
Kevin Morgan (Australian politician)
Kevin Barry Morgan was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for a single term between 1953 and 1956. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party ....
. Clough defeated Morgan, but after a redistribution in 1959 the seat was given a Labor majority and Clough did not contest the election. He was instead elected to Baulkham Hills Council, but re-entered state politics in 1965 following the retirement of Eastwood
Electoral district of Eastwood
Eastwood was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1927 to 1930 and from 1965 to 1999. It included Eastwood.-Members for Eastwood:...
Liberal MP Eric Hearnshaw
Eric Hearnshaw
Eric Hearnshaw was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1945 until 1965. He was a member of the Liberal Party of Australia....
, and was Minister for Youth, Ethnic and Community Affairs for four months in 1976. He held staunch, socially conservative views, vehemently opposing the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1984, remarking: "...that there are people in the community that want to and can help them overcome their problem". He held the seat until 1988, when he was defeated for preselection by Andrew Tink
Andrew Tink
Andrew Arnold Tink BA LLB MP is a former Australian politician, having served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1988 to 2007....
and retired.